Biz group leader calls for consistency amid Marcos-Duterte row

The Philippines’ consistency and regularity of policy should be emphasized as the country goes through politically challenging times, a top official of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said Monday.

According to MAP president Rene Almendras, the country’s competitiveness also includes the environment that it can provide for investments from businessmen both local and overseas, and sentiment is a key factor.

“I’m not a political expert. I refuse to make a political comment, but our competitiveness as a country is also determined by the image and our reputation as a country, so most important to business is consistency and regularity of policy,” he said at the sidelines of the MAP Annual General Membership Meeting.

“I am hoping that that will continue to be, and will be emphasized as we go through these politically challenging times is that we need to show the world that we are still, you know, consistent, and we still have regular business as usual situation,” he added.

Almendras was asked about the business impact of current political situation in the country, after Vice President Sara Duterte said she spoke with someone to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were slain.

“‘Wag kang mag-alala sa security ko kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez (Do not worry about by my security because I already spoke with someone. I told that person that if I were to be slain, kill BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez),” Duterte said.

Duterte later said her remarks were not a threat, and that she only highlighted the alleged threat to her security. She also compared this to her earlier declaration that should attacks against her continue, she would excavate the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and throw them in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos on Monday vowed to block “criminal attempts” amid Duterte’s remark, saying that if it were that easy to plan killing a sitting President, how much more for ordinary citizens.

 “‘Yang ganyang kriminal na pagtatangka ay hindi dapat pinapalampas. ‘Yan ay aking papalagan, (Criminal attempts like that should not be ignored. I will fight back)” he said.

For his part, Almendras cited the need to maintain a healthy business environment, which includes a positive sentiment, for the potential entry of investments.

“You cannot separate sentiment from domestic and international. If there is a group of people that need to have a positive sentiment about our country, it should be us because the foreigners are looking at us and look at us before they make investments here, right, so that to me is what’s very important,” he said.
—RF, GMA Integrated News